Below, we have an essential fact-check on a widely-spread political ad in North Carolina, and a guide to helping out during NC’s drought, but first: 

Every week in 3 things happening in NC, we pick out three of the most important storylines of the week and get you ready for them. 

This week, C&P contributor Ryan Pitkin tells us what folks have planned for the 100th birthday of legendary North Carolina musician John Coltrane. 

He also breaks down two big political stories, including the possibility that Congress will formally rebuke one of NC’s representatives. 

Here are 3 things happening in NC this week. 

The brilliant John Coltrane—of Hamlet, NC—in 1963. (Dutch National Archives/Creative Commons)

Welcome back from the weekend, NC. Here’s what you’ll find in today’s newsletter from Cardinal & Pine:

One more view of last week’s lunar eclipse, this one photographed—beautifully—by C&P reader Wanda Bullard in Pembroke. 

Do you have a cool view from NC? Send it to me!

Screenshot via YouTube

This is an essential context-check. 

By now, you’ve probably seen the misleading attack ad attempting to connect Senate candidate Roy Cooper to some high-profile crimes.

A Republican super PAC wants to convince people that Cooper shares the blame for those crimes because of his policies as NC’s former governor and attorney general, but they take some big leaps and spin some real yarns to get there. 

In one widely-seen ad—which we won’t link to—a father who lost his son to gun violence appears to blame Cooper’s policies for his son’s death. But the grieving dad says he was lied to.

He says he filmed the video believing it was for an anti-gun violence program, not a political attack ad. He only learned he was in the ad when he saw himself on television.

C&P’s Dylan Rhoney explains it here. 

More from Cardinal & Pine: 

1. US Treasury blocks certain journalists from G20 meeting in North Carolina. Washington Post

“The U.S. Treasury Department is preventing certain journalists from covering a finance meeting among the world’s most powerful countries, the latest example of how President Donald Trump’s administration has restricted media access.”

2. NC health officials warn of possible rabies exposure tied to petting zoo goats. ABC-11

“Officials say multiple baby goats from the petting zoo tested positive for rabies and could have come into contact with people at the petting zoo’s primary location in Harmony or at mobile events in several counties while the goats were infectious.”

3. Black hawk helicopter rescues fallen climber from North Carolina mountains, officials say. WBTV-3

“Emergency crews were called to the area around 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 30, after receiving reports of a fallen climber near Wolf Pit Road and the Linville Boat Ramp.”

4. Three races to watch in Roy Cooper’s backyard. The Assembly

“Nash County has often voted for the winners of statewide contests. This year, the area is home to three legislative races that could make or break a GOP supermajority.”

Many of the trees along Hay Street in downtown Fayetteville have misshapen crowns and dead limbs. It’s because of North Carolina’s ongoing drought. (USA Today via Reuters)

The drought is not over. And there will be more of these because climate change is, ahem, a thing.

Today, C&P contributor Chaunie Brusie wrote that most of the state has been grappling with drought throughout the summer. 

We don’t want to just tell you about bad stuff though. We like to tell you what you can actually do about it.

So take a look and share our new guide for helping out during a drought, from things you can do on a small scale at your home to things you can do on a much larger level. 

Read it here and share! 🙏

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Billy Ball. I’m an NC native and journalist. I tend to lean left on opinion, but I lean no way on facts. Today’s edition includes stories from Ryan Pitkin, Dylan Rhoney, and

Chaunie Brusie. It was edited by Crystal Niforos.

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